The NC Education Lottery announced that it has handed jackpots to more lucky players. These included a man from Stanley in Gaston County.
The lucky player, Melvin Brooks, said that he decided to give the lottery a shot after seeing a friend win $100 playing the $400,000 Jackpot game. When he did, he became the first winner of the game’s top prize.
Brooks purchased his ticket on Saturday, June 8, from Circle A Food Store on North Main Street in Mount Holly.
In an interview with the lottery, Brooks said:
I saw a friend’s post that he won $100 on that scratch-off so I decided to try it. I was with my cousin when I scratched the ticket in the parking lot.
Melvin Brooks, lottery winner
Brooks went out to celebrate immediately after he won. He claimed his prize on the following Monday, taking $286,000 after taxes. In his words, he will use the money to pay off his mortgage and help out his family.
Davidson County Player Claims $1M
In the meantime, Dwayne Hinkle of Lexington, Davidson County, won $1 million from a $10 scratch-off ticket. The prize was announced earlier today, with the NC Lottery confirming that it was won playing the Ultimate Dash game.
According to the lottery, the winning ticket was purchased from the Grab and Go on West Center Street in Lexington.
Hinkle was faced with a difficult decision – he could either receive his prize as an annuity of $50,000 over 20 years or take the lump sum of $600,000. He eventually chose the latter, taking home $429,000 after taxes.
Halifax County Player Won Big
On June 14, the NC Lottery announced that another player, this time from Littleton, Halifax County, had won a $400,000 grand prize after trying his luck on a second-chance drawing.
Calvin Fitts participated in the drawing on June 5, along with some 50.5 other entries. However, Fitts overcame the odds and became the recipient of a $400,000 jackpot. After taxes, he took home $286,000.
In the meantime, the NC lottery continues to provide millions in grants to schools across the state. The company has so far provided $87.1 million in grants to the Halifax County Schools and Weldon City Schools districts.
As the lottery craze rages on, the lottery announced that it has surpassed $1 billion in digital instant game sales.